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Dodge Mountain House

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A carbon smart house in rural Maine

Primary Projects & Andrew Frederick
Our client­—a young couple with plans for children­—wanted a modestly sized, high-performance, modern house. They purchased a forested plot with distant ocean views and reached out to us with a vision for a multi-volume house inspired by—Croft's founder, frequent collaborator, and good friend—Andrew Frederick’s nearby home.

We aimed to internalize the lessons from Andrew’s house and, if possible, build on them for a family with different needs and site constraints.

The design features two gabled wings set perpendicular to each other: one houses the primary bedroom and bath, and the other contains the first-floor living spaces and the children’s bedrooms above. A mudroom stitches them together, providing a transitional space and simplifying construction.


Construction Photos 👷📸

Opposing windows extend the living room From the bedrooms to the living space Vertical siding at the gable end A high window naturally lights the stairs Look out the window from bed From the end of the living wing to the primary bed Stacked standard windows to lower cost & allow operability
Click or tap to advance
The house's inner courtyard Doors into each wing from the sheltered courtyard create a casual vibe A window peeks into one of the upstairs bedrooms The primary suite in the foreground with the living spaces & secondary bedrooms beyond






The L-shaped house is entered at the outer elbow, the junction between the wings







The entry porch takes advantage of the morning sun






Floor Plans

First floor, from top left to bottom right:
  • Primary bed & bath
  • Mudroom / entry
  • Family & guest bath
  • Under-stair laundry & utility
  • Pantry
  • Kitchen
  • Living Space
The upstairs houses two additional bedrooms and a storage loft above the primary bath




The house form creates a protected courtyard, which faces the distant ocean views





The kitchen & living space is connected to the inner courtyard through generous windows & a large door





A window at the sink increases counter space, brings in light, and is a killer spot for bird-watching





The ceiling height - driven by the upstairs bedrooms - makes the modest living room feel spacious






The hall (left) creates a distinction between the social and private spaces of the house while doubling as an excellent art gallery





A window / door pair on the inner courtyard side of the primary bedroom makes it feel like you’re sleeping outside





A view from the storage loft to the primary bed





The entry hall to the primary bed provides the homeowner with an additional layer of privacy





The cedar decking changes orientation as it wraps around the elbow. We get excited about simple moves that feel special without adding cost





Although the house only has a few openings, they are often located across from one another - like the kitchen, shown here - to give the space an airy feel




Locating windows at the corners simplifies prefab panelization and encourages light to bounce as it enters the home 



Client

Private

Status

Under Construction

Location

Rockland, Maine

Services

  • Architectural Design
  • Furniture Selection
  • Interior Design


Credits

  • Andrew Frederick,
    Collaborator


Tags

House, Carbon Smart, Prefab



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